By Myah Hesselgesser, Staff Writer
Recently, Howard County updated the athletic handbook stating that school teams are now allowed twelve summer practices with a coach. In previous years, teams were not allowed to train with coaches at all as a team during the off-season.
For past years, the MPSSAA Handbook stated that, “Any school group or team gathering consisting of three or more players that has assembled for the purpose of drilling or instruction would constitute a violation. School coaching staff may work with a maximum of two players per day” regarding out-of-season practice.
This new rule allowing summer team practices applies after Memorial Day until the last Friday of July. Some of the limitations to this rule are as follows:
- Allowed 12 total practices with returning students only; not mandatory
- Coaching staff must set up practices with approval from the athletic director and admin team
- Practices can only be two hours maximum
- Not allowed to go full contact and/or equipment
- Only county sponsored teams with certified athletic coaches apply to this rule
Recently, many outdoor practices have been getting canceled due to the bad air quality from the fires in Canada. The air quality currently is around 250 and it will only go up before it goes down.
This new rule could really switch up the outcome of the season by giving teams a chance to use up this extra practice time. We will see next school year how these extra practices will affect the teams and if it will improve their playing.